Land Rover Series removable crossmember modification-Very easy !

This is the Removable Gearbox crossmember modification I did to my Series 3 Land Rover we use as a daily driver. It's surprising that Land Rover fitted a removable Crossmember to their Military series 3 Land Rovers, but this wasn't done to the civillian versions. I had the big trip to Melbourne coming up and was bloody nervous about taking poor old Charlie on a 4000km round trip with 3.5 ton behind, so I installed a second hand gearbox in the cargo area for peace of mind.
This is wonderful insurance when travelling in an old car miles from home. However, I quickly realised the gearbox couldn't be easily removed due to, what I consider to be a major design fault.
The damn Crossmember under the gearbox.
On inspection, the modification seemed simple, cut it off and weld on a few plates. Other than some small crush tubes the process was very easy. The cost was under $10.
From memory it took about 3 hours to work out what to do, then implement the design. Its pretty good insurance to know the gearbox can come out so easily, and quickly.

[@78a67h]

You can sell your "invention" to Land Rover, though I believe, they have already incorporated this design in the defender chasis. The importance of this mod is that the gearbox can now be removed from the bottom of the Landy, whereas on original unmodified Landys the floor boards and panels inside the vehicle had to be removed to lift off the gearbox from the top and the inside of the car. Well done!

[@jjt1093]

Think I should do this to my 1970 series 3 109, Its been banged by some owner years back and needs repairing or replacing, So I will do this mod, Great tip :)

[@NathanNostaw]

Great mod. So much easier than taking the gearbox out through the seat box.

[@bigbird130]

Well done looks like a simple and elegant solution.

[@jezohare3013]

Thank you, just restoring my chassis now so might as well do this brilliant idea, cheers!

[@colinnorthcott9219]

Thats brilliant :-) I will put it on my 2a
Cheers and thanks for posting

[@lookcreations]

Hmm, think I might add this to Clanger 109" when I replace the rusted cross member. Thanks for uploading. Subscribed for more :-)

[@pclarke70]

Standard on the military Lightweight, trouble is I only found that out after I’d removed my gearbox the traditional Haynes workshop manual way through the cab area! 🤪

[@warbirdflyer7276]

No. That’s great shit! Well done

[@steamwally]

Great video, but I can't help but notice the hole in the gearbox bell-housing - never seen that before.

[@nakedoffroad8518]

steamwally -yes... about that. One fine day I was driving with the wind in my hair , until the pin broke on the front of the starter motor , thus , the spring , all the washers and end plates fell into the bell housing . Drove back 200km with the occasional " ping" sound as the bits hit the fast moving clutch pressure plate. Contemplated removing gearbox, but the 40mm holesaw won out on that battle.

[@vicious0005]

Good job, however I can not believe you carry a spare gearbox with you.........